Santiago's Command by Kim Lawrence Page A

assurance was the only reason she was here—that and Ramon’s promise of a ride on a pure-bred Arab, which she had been unable to resist.
    Though she’d managed to do so until Ramon, correctly interpreting her reluctance, had promised his brother would not be there. ‘So there’s no need to be nervous.’
    Her pride stung, she had retorted hotly, ‘Your brother does not make me nervous. I simply find him …’ At a loss to explain even to herself the way the man made her feel, she finished lamely, ‘He won’t be there.’
    ‘No chance,’ Ramon had promised, coaxing, ‘Come on, the least I can do is give you the ride I promised. You’ve fulfilled your side of the bargain and, yes, don’t worry,’ he soothed, predicting her interruption, ‘I know you don’t want to carry on with our plan … You are sure about that?’
    ‘Quite sure.’
    ‘Pity, I was having fun. Oh, well.’ Ramon gave a philosophical shrug. ‘It’s not all bad—you really got to Santiago.’
    Not nearly as much as he got to me
.
    ‘Did I?’ she said, getting hot as she thought of his hard, lean, ardent body pressing her … his warm breath … Shesucked in a steadying breath and thought,
Keep it together, Lucy. The man kissed you—big deal!
    ‘Well, he was as rude as hell to you.’
    ‘I assumed that was normal for him.’
    Ramon shook his head. ‘Big brother is always polite even when he’s mad as hell. He has this way of letting you know you’ve messed up without raising his voice.’
    ‘I feel so special.’
    ‘You still sure you don’t want to carry it on?’
    ‘I don’t. Sorry, Ramon, but I’m here to help Harriet and that doesn’t leave much time to make myself a sitting target for your delightful brother’s insults.’
    Actually she did have time, as Harriet had pointed out when she had heard Lucy knock back Ramon’s offer to go out.
    ‘I appreciate what you’re doing, Lucy, but even convicted prisoners are allowed time off for good behaviour and, besides, you’re giving me an inferiority complex. The place has never looked so immaculate.’
    Lucy had allowed herself to be persuaded … perhaps a little too easily?
    ‘Ah, well … but it’s all good. You made such an impression that no matter who I date is going to seem an improvement, so it’s win-win for me.’
    Lucy’s lips quivered. ‘I’m so glad to have been of help.’ The sarcasm passed over Ramon’s head. ‘You are sure your brother won’t be around?’ She wasn’t scared of bumping into him, it was simply a matter of common sense. She hated spiders so she wasn’t going to wander into a room where she might encounter one.
    ‘I told you Santiago rides before anyone is up. He’s already done half a day’s work before breakfast. The man’s a machine, not human—he might not even sleep at all.’
    Lucy did not share the admiration in Ramon’s voice. ‘Or maybe he can’t sleep because he has a guilty conscience?’
    The spiky comment drew a laugh from Ramon. ‘Most people think Santiago is one of the good guys.’
    Lucy snorted.
    ‘That’s Santiago’s horse, Santana,’ Ramon said as she walked to the stall containing the massive magnificent black stallion she remembered from her first meeting with Santiago … Was that really only four days ago?
    It seemed like a lifetime ago.
    The animal rolled his eyes, showing the whites as Ramon caught the hand she had extended to the animal and pulled her back. ‘Not a good idea. He’s a bit unpredictable.’
Like his master
, Lucy thought, remembering that kiss again and shivering. Jaw clenched with the effort, she pushed the memory away.
    A few sleepless nights ago she had finally decided to cut herself some slack, realising that the only reason she had kissed him back like some sort of sex-starved bimbo was because she was—the sex-starved bit anyhow. She had been living the life of a nun and that was not normal or healthy.
    When you thought about it, their kiss had been inevitable. It had